Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellowship

PGY4 – Foundational Clinical Training Year

The PGY4 year provides comprehensive foundational training in Pediatric Infectious Diseases through inpatient and outpatient clinical experiences, microbiology, infection prevention, antimicrobial stewardship, and early scholarly development. Fellows build core consultation skills across a broad range of pediatric infectious diseases while gaining experience in diagnostic microbiology, hospital epidemiology, and stewardship programs. Dedicated research planning time allows fellows to identify mentors, develop scholarly interests, and initiate academic projects. 

Estimated time allocation: ~6 months inpatient clinical service and ~2–3 months protected research/scholarly activity.

Continuity Clinic:

One-half day weekly when not on inpatient service. First-year fellows participate in general Pediatric Infectious Diseases and travel medicine clinics.

PGY5 – Advanced Clinical and Scholarly Development Year

The PGY5 year emphasizes increasing clinical autonomy, advanced management of complex infectious diseases, and scholarly productivity. Fellows expand their expertise through advanced inpatient consultative experiences, HIV medicine and individualized electives tailored to career interests. Protected research time supports ongoing scholarly activity, including quality improvement, presentations, and manuscript development. Fellows also develop leadership and teaching skills through supervision of trainees and participation in divisional education.

Estimated time allocation: ~5 months inpatient clinical service and ~4–5 months protected research/scholarly activity.

Continuity Clinic:

One-half day weekly when not on inpatient service. Fellows continue general ID and travel medicine clinics and begin longitudinal HIV clinic experience under HIV specialist supervision.

PGY6 – Leadership, Scholarship, and Career Focus Year

The PGY6 year is an individualized advanced training year focused on academic development, leadership, and transition to independent practice. Fellows function with near-attending-level autonomy while pursuing substantial protected scholarly time. Advanced electives and stewardship experiences allow fellows to refine expertise in areas such as immunocompromised host infections, transplant infectious diseases, HIV medicine, antimicrobial stewardship, or healthcare epidemiology. Fellows graduate prepared for academic, clinical, and leadership roles in Pediatric Infectious Diseases.

Estimated time allocation: ~2 months inpatient clinical service and ~7–8 months protected research/scholarly activity.

Continuity Clinic:

One-half day weekly when not on inpatient service. Senior fellows maintain longitudinal continuity with general ID, travel medicine, and HIV patients throughout training.

Each fellow is required to complete a research project of their interest during training. A written document of their scholarly work (whether a summary or a published manuscript) is required to be submitted to the ABP in order to be eligible to sit for the subspecialty certification exam. Corewell Health in West Michigan offers a formal research training curriculum to be completed during the first year of fellowship as each fellow begins their projects. In addition, every fellow receives excellent support and guidance from the Office of Research on matters such as IRB protocols, data processing, data interpretation, literature review, and more. Our division is active in clinical research, which includes quality improvement work and original projects. Fellows have the option to work alongside faculty from any Corewell Health in West Michigan specialty. In addition, if a basic science project is desired, we have contacts at Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Valley State University or Michigan State University in Grand Rapids and Lansing.

Recent published topics from our faculty include:

• Contributions to multicenter guidance on the management of COVID-19
• Our hospital’s experience with MIS-C
• Clostridium difficile treatment in pediatrics including fecal transplant
• Risk factors for resistant gram-negative infections in patients with congenital heart disease
• Benchmarking of Outpatient Pediatric Antibiotic Prescribing: Results of a Multicenter Collaborative
• Parent perspectives on sexual and reproductive health with internationally adopted youth living with HIV

• Long-Acting Antiretroviral Drug Therapy in Adolescents: Current Status and Future Prospects

• Notes from the Field: Increase in Pediatric Intracranial Infections During the COVID-19 Pandemic - Eight Pediatric Hospitals, United States, March 2020-March 2022
• Adolescents and Young Adults: The Pediatrician's Role in HIV Testing and Pre- and Postexposure HIV Prophylaxis
• CCR5 and Biological Complexity: The Need for Data Integration and Educational Materials to Address Genetic/Biological Reductionism at the Interface of Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications 

To access peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, books, conference presentations, and posters published by Corewell Health authors, please visit the digital repository.

Applications for the pediatric infectious diseases fellowship program are only accepted through the ERAS system. Please refer to their timeline for application windows. All applicants must possess U.S. work authorization or be eligible for J-1 status.

Combined Adult/Peds Infectious Disease

In collaboration with the Corewell Health Infectious Disease fellowship, we offer a combined fellowship experience that integrates both adult and pediatric infectious disease training.  Applicants interested in pursuing a combined fellowship are encouraged to apply.

For more information on our program, please contact Lauren Fodor, program coordinator.

Corewell Health in West Michigan provides a comprehensive and very competitive benefits package for our residents, staff, and their families. In addition, our program provides educational monies to support your ongoing education. Download our salary and benefits document to learn more.